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| Date: | Friday 8 July 2005 |
| Time: | 11:16 UTC |
| Type: |  Airbus A320-233 |
| Owner/operator: | TACA International Airlines, lst Universal Airlines |
| Registration: | N461TA |
| MSN: | 1300 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2000 |
| Engine model: | IAE V2527E-A5 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | None |
| Location: | Near Georgetown-Cheddi Jagan International Airport (GEO/SYCJ) -
 Guyana
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
| Departure airport: | New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY (JFK/KJFK) |
| Georgetown-Cheddi Jagan International Airport (GEO/SYCJ) | |
| Investigating agency: | AAC Panama |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On July 8, 2005, the Airbus A320-233 aircraft, registration N461TA, flight number TAI8101, a charter flight operated by TACA International Airlines of El Salvador, was preparing to land on runway 06 of Cheddi Jagan International Airport (SYCJ) in British Guiana on the New York (KJFK) – Georgetown, Cheddi Jagan International Airport (SYCJ) – British Guiana segment, with Johan Pengel International Airport (SMJP) in Suriname as the alternate destination airport. The flight plan was IFR.
The flight was cleared by the Georgetown Area Control Center (ACC) to descend from 33,000 feet to 3,000 feet for a VOR approach to runway 6. Additionally, the Georgetown ACC provided the METAR, without mentioning that the airport was closed to IFR non-precision approaches (VOR). When flight TAI8101 reported an altitude of 11,500 feet during its descent, the Georgetown Area Control Center informed it that the airport was closed to IFR operations due to fog. Flight TAI8101 requested an approach to runway 24. The Area Control Center authorized an RNAV-GPS approach to runway 24, and the captain accepted it. The flight made a missed approach to runway 24 and requested that tower control fly direct to Suriname because they were low on fuel. The captain in command requests a closer alternate airport than planned because flight TAI8101 is experiencing a low fuel situation and needs to land immediately.
The captain requests the distance to the planned alternate airport in Suriname and the airport code, which is provided by the tower. The captain asks if weather conditions have improved in Georgetown, and Tower Control reports that conditions remain the same. Tower Control asks TAI8101 if it wants to attempt an approach to runway 06, and the flight crew answers affirmatively. The flight is cleared for an RNAV approach to runway 06, which is accepted by the flight crew of TAI8101. The captain reports that they have 3,000 kg of fuel remaining (estimated to be equivalent to between 20 and 30 minutes of flight time according to the tower communications transcript and the sworn statement of the captain in command). Finally, the airport prepares its emergency equipment, and the flight lands at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (SYCJ) in Georgetown with 2,800 kg of fuel remaining.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.aac.gob.sv/informes-de-accidentes/ (Page 3, 1st of section)
https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/504021 (Photo)
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 18-Apr-2025 18:17 | Justanormalperson | Added |
| 18-Apr-2025 18:20 | ASN | Updated [Narrative, Accident report, ] |
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